After more than 1 million small crossovers and SUVs were sold in Europe in 2015, this remains one of the fastest growing segments with an increase of 16% to 1,4 million sales in 2016, more than half the volume of the subcompact hatchbacks, Europe largest segment and the models on which most of these crossovers are based. The growth is mostly fueled by recent model introductions, as proven by the fact that the entire top-4 loses share of the segment. Still, only two models in the top-10 lose volume in 2016, although that figure doubles to four in the last quarter. As expected, the Renault Captur holds on to the segment lead and becomes the first small crossover to sell over 200.000 units annually in Europe. More surprisingly, the Captur manages this performance without having been updated since its launch while its two closes rivals have been facelifted in 2016. Of these two, the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka sees stable sales and loses its second place to the Peugeot 2008, the fastest growing model in the top-4.
Note: clicking on the model name opens the sales data page for that model; clicking year in the legend turns the display for that year on/off
*We have to make a sidenote here that we’ve shuffled up the small and midsized crossover segments a bit since last quarter, in order to give a better reflection of the market. This means the Skoda Yeti, Mitsubishi ASX, Suzuki S-Cross and Kia Niro have been moved down from the midsized crossover segment.
In fourth place we find the Dacia Duster again, holding on nicely despite being one of the oldest models of the segment together with sixth place finisher Nissan Juke, as both were launched in 2010 and both have received only minor facelifts without any changes to the sheetmetal. As a result, the Juke is down 4% in sales and drops below 100.000 sales, while the Fiat 500X does the exact opposite thanks to a 41% increase. However, the 500X was down 5,7% in Q4, indicating the model has reached its peak. The same can’t be said of its sibling Jeep Renegade, which also improves 41% for the year, but this includes a 26% increase in Q4, making it the fastest growing model of the segment top-10 in the last quarter. As a result, the Renegade passes the Citroën C4 Cactus and Skoda Yeti and fends off the Suzuki Vitara. The C4 Cactus is down 10% for the year and down 24% in Q4 and the Yeti is down 7% for the year and down 6% in Q4, when the Ford Ecosport and Mazda CX-3 were close behind these two models. In fact, in November both these models outsold their quirky French rival. Still, the Ecosport was also down in the last quarter and proves its facelift with the updated interior, improved ride comfort and removal of the retro spare wheel on the boot has helped the flopped model slightly but not enough.
The fastest growing model in the segment in both Q4 and the full year is the Honda HR-V which moves to 14th place, but it’s unlikely to move up the ranking any further as the gap to the #13 is too large, and there’s also a newcomer storming the charts: the love-it-or-hate-it design of the Toyota C-HR proves to find enough love-its to already outsell the HR-V in the fourth quarter (including a 9th place in December) and make it a true top-5 contender in 2017. The C-HR is the second model in the segment to offer a hybrid version, as the Kia Niro offers such a powertrain as standard. The Toyota appears to have the edge over its rival, also helped by the brand’s familiarity as a maker of hybrid cars.
In 2017 the new product onslaught will continue thanks to VW Group and Hyundai-Kia: we will finally see the long-awaited Polo crossover (Taigun?) and Seat will bring the Arona based on the new Ibiza. The replacements to the Hyundai ix20 and Kia Venga MPVs will become crossovers too, making the South-Koreans compete in this segment too, at last. Nissan will also present the second generation Juke and at the end of the year Dacia may show the new Duster, but that won’t hit the market until 2018, just like the next gen Mitsubishi ASX which will become a bit smaller to make room for the Eclipse Cross between it and the Outlander. Also in 2017 the Captur will be facelifted, but don’t expect any major cosmetic changes, as the Clio also needs a second or even third look before you see what’s new. The Suzuki S-Cross has just been facelifted and the Vitara will follow soon, as well as the EcoSport.
Also check out the subcompact crossover segment in the US, where the Jeep Renegade is the distant leader while its sibling Fiat 500X can now officially be called a flop.
| Small SUV segment | 2016 | 2015 | Change | |
| 1 | Renault Captur | 215.493 | 194.847 | 11% |
| 2 | Peugeot 2008 | 175.079 | 154.325 | 13% |
| 3 | Opel/Vauxhall Mokka | 164.340 | 163.246 | 1% |
| 4 | Dacia Duster | 139.826 | 125.416 | 11% |
| 5 | Fiat 500X | 104.931 | 74.262 | 41% |
| 6 | Nissan Juke | 98.108 | 102.574 | -4% |
| 7 | Jeep Renegade | 76.203 | 53.940 | 41% |
| 8 | Suzuki Vitara | 73.099 | 41.676 | 75% |
| 9 | Citroën C4 Cactus | 71.378 | 78.888 | -10% |
| 10 | Skoda Yeti | 59.531 | 64.348 | -7% |
| 11 | Ford Ecosport | 57.294 | 40.084 | 43% |
| 12 | Mazda CX-3 | 52.409 | 24.237 | 116% |
| 13 | Mitsubishi ASX | 39.241 | 45.228 | -13% |
| 14 | Honda HR-V | 33.064 | 7.621 | 334% |
| 15 | Suzuki S-Cross | 23.185 | 29.087 | -20% |
| 16 | Kia Soul | 13.599 | 16.326 | -17% |
| 17 | Suzuki Jimny | 13.184 | 12.271 | 7% |
| 18 | SsangYong Tivoli | 10.051 | 4.513 | 123% |
| 19 | Kia Niro | 8.562 | 0 | New |
| 20 | Toyota C-HR | 7.123 | 0 | New |
| 21 | Lada Niva | 1.925 | 1.652 | 17% |
| 22 | SsangYong XLV | 1.154 | 0 | New |
| 23 | Suzuki SX4 | 489 | 3.161 | -85% |
| 24 | Chevrolet Trax | 71 | 229 | -69% |
| 25 | DR CityCross | 29 | 66 | -56% |
| 26 | Fiat Sedici | 4 | 249 | -98% |
| Segment total | 1.439.339 | 1.237.931 | 16% |
Click on any model to see its annual sales from 1997-2016 and monthly sales from 2012 to 2016, or use the dropdown menu in the top right of this site.
Car sales statistics are from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.
Bazooka says
Captur is the cheapest car in this segment – that’s the reason it sells well. The plastics inside are terrible – dacia level. 2008 compared to capurt it’s like a premium car to a budget vehicle.
ToJa says
Again a French-hater. You are boring. Repeating the same thing under each article.
If Renault sales are bad => because it’s cheap
If Renault sales are good => because it’s cheap
You are absolutely inconsequential.
IF you hate Renault so much, don’t buy it. Simple as it is.
Rick M says
Bazooka = bubble gum
Blow in some air …..it bursts.
“Captur is the cheapest”??
Facts friend!
Captur’s in France are available from, say, 17k to 26k.
So what’s the point?
Rick M says
The top 4 achieved its 2016 sales evenly spread over Europa.
But f.i. #5 and #7 heavily rely on one market, Italy.
In particular the 500X (and Panda) realizes ca 70% of its sales on home turf.
The missing brand in this soaring segment is indeed VW AG.
Guess the Polo Cross-over will catapult to the top.
The Little Engine That Could aka Duster was and is an amazing success, albeit mostly under the radar.
7 years old, yet at its peak globally. And don’t forget, with 8% operational margin it is as profitable as an Audi and Skoda.
Way beyond VW, Ford, Opel, Korean brands.
JackFb says
Actually, in 2016, the 500X sold 46.233 units in Italy, out of 104.931 in the whole of Europe. That’s 44 percent of european sales in Italy, way less than 70%. The 500X can’t be considered an Italy-based phenomenon like other FCA models, even considering how this carmaker home share is naturally high, being the only national one. It’s interesting to notice that actually the Renegade is (just a little) more “Italian” than the 500X itself with 45% of EU sales there. For comparison’s sake there other models way more Italy-reliant: Panda 77,3 of EU sales in Italy, 500L 66,6%, Ypsilon 98%, Punto 72,2%. The Giulietta has some more international appeal (or less national one, seeing it from another perspective) with 57,4% of sales in Italy. The Tipo is almost 50-50 with 52,4%, even if that can change considering that 2016 wasn’t a full year of sales and some markets received it later than others. The same considerations have to be made for the Giulia, which sold 45,1% of its stock in its home market. The one model that really is setting apart is the 500, as it has always been since its launch, having sold in Italy just the 24,8% of its total european amount.
Rick M says
Quite curious to see the Captur Phase II in March.
Renault will understand that with the imminent threat of Polo and Ibiza Cross-Over’s it must step-up its game.
Look at the Cactus, the Kadjar. Only in its 3rd, resp. 2nd year, they already have a hard time maintaining their EU level – the competition is absolutely ferocious.
ToJa says
Yes, you are right. I think the reason for it is that Kadjar is not french. Is it Nissan with poor interior quality and no french feeling. 3008 will surely eat it in 2017.
When it comes to Cactus. it is too budget. Looks great, ideas are great but is not as cheap as it should be, considering the build quality. On the other hand, Ecosport is a a quality-disaster and extremely ugly…. and have almost the same result as Cactus. I don’t get it.
d3ns says
Hi Bart,
Could you explain us your methodology concerning the segment choice ? Have you fixed any length limit between them ?
Because here for instance I do not understand some models listed here such as the Toyota C-HR (4,36m) or Kia Niro (4,36m) as they tend to belong to the C-SUV segment. Without said that Kia Niro is even more expensive than Sportage.
For instance, Qashqai 1 was 4,31m and Qashqai 2 is 4,37m.
Leading Renault Captur is only 4,12m.
I think we should put the B-SUV and C-SUV border around 4.30m.
I guess the only exception would be the Dacia Duster, taking into consideration its very low price positionning, attracting B-SUV intenders.
Losange says
I agree, C-HR and Niro are C-segment crossovers. In fact, Toyota stated the C-HR would be their Qashqai rival.
With all the competition it’s great to see six-year-old Juke performing relatively stable.
Bart Demandt says
Thanks for your input, D3ns and Losange!
I was in doubt about these two, because they seem to be exactly between the two segments in terms of size. I’ll move them to the C-segment for 2017.
Pedro says
Bart, you should consider blocking messages from users that are clearly trolls. It’s quite annoying that there’s some silly wars and hatred for a specific brand in every single topic that you guys open always from the same person.